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Gas Cooled Reactors Shut Down In UK
mdsolar writes EDF Energy, the British subsidiary of the French state-controlled utility, said on Monday that it was shutting down three nuclear reactors and that a reactor with a fault that has been shut down since June would remain so. The facilities, which are being investigated as a precaution, generate nearly a quarter of nuclear capacity in Britain. The British Office for Nuclear Regulation said that there had been no release of radioactive material and no injuries. Industry experts did not anticipate much effect on electricity supplies or prices in the short term. EDF said that over the next few days it would idle a second reactor at the facility, Heysham 1, in northwest England. The company said it would also shut down two other reactors of similar design at Hartlepool in northeast England to investigate whether they had the same flaws.
I once designed a huge display clock for the reception area of Heysham nuclear power station. The clock had a sweep second hand that traced out a ring of LEDs once per minute, and a counter that showed the number of days since the last industrial accident. The specification called for this counter to have just three digits, which frankly didn't inspire much confidence.
'Renewable' fuels are a misnomer. The sun will run out of fuel too sometime. When that happens you can forget about solar panels or windmills.
Of course that's in geological timescales so it does not matter. There is enough nuclear fission fuel to last for thousands of years so that is irrelevant as well. As for oil we have been using it for over a century by now and it seems we haven't ran out of it yet.
Isn't that awesome?
IF they address issues in a safe and responsible manner, they get slammed.
If they ignore it, and a meltdown occurs, it's even worse.
If they do what needs to be done to avoid a meltdown/accident, but don't tell anyone, they get accused of sweeping things under the rug.
Oh, and they get the Nimbitards all riled up if they decide to build new plants; despite in part, building the new plants to address the concerns raised by the NIMBY types over the old plants.
=/
(Yes, you could say just ditch nuclear power; but should that happen without drops in consumption, or something else to fill the gap coming online?)
you can build and operate the hamster wheels right at home; maybe a giant one in front of Parliament or Buckhingham for Her Majesty's pleasure.
I though London already had a giant hamster wheel on the South Bank - the EDF Energy Hamster Wheel?
Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.